After nine straight quarters of growth, worldwide PC shipments dropped by 4.9 percent year-over-year, according to IDC. The research firm places the blame for the decline squarely on the memory chip shortage driven by the AI arms race. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/image.webp?quality=90&strip=all]

IDC warns smaller players may struggle as DRAM drought drags on

After nine straight quarters of growth, worldwide PC shipments dropped by 4.9 percent year-over-year, according to IDC. The research firm places the blame for the decline squarely…

AI companies buying memory inventory for data centre investments, and geopolitical uncertainty, is weighing heavy on the PC market. | Business News

Global memory chip sales hit a record $74.6 billion in July 2026, up 31.7% month-over-month, as AI demand drives a structural supply shortage through 2028.

Los envíos mundiales de computadoras personales cayeron un 4,9% en el segundo trimestre de 2026; Apple, la única del top 5 que aumentó sus ventas

Omdia says the PC market fell 3.6% in Q2 2026 and sub-$400 phone shipments will drop 22%, as AI's hunger for memory chips pushes device prices up.

Las ventas mundiales de computadoras personales descendieron un 4,9% en el segundo trimestre de 2026

AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory is squeezing Apple and PC makers, with data centers consuming 70% of high-end DRAM supply and prices rising